Electric sign.



1.]. STEINKE.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.-20.1917.

Patented May 28, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB J. STEINKE, 0F FLINT, MICHIGAN.

nnncrnrc SIGN.

Specification of Letters latent; I

Patented May 28, 1918.

Application filed February 20, 1917. Serial No. 149,754.

the art to which it appertains to make'and I use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in electric signs.

The, object of this invention is the provision of an electric sign,which is so constructed as to support a plurality of glass panels onwhich are formed letters of different characters, so that the same isrendered interchangeable.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a frame inwhichis removably placed a plurality of interchangeable letter carryingglass plates, behind which are positioned incandescent lights so thatthe rays may shine through the plates illuminating the letters thereon;

closed within suitable casings so that their rays may be confinedtherein and directed on I the rear of the plates so that the letters onthe plates will be illuminated.

A still further object of this invention is 'the provision of anelectric sign, which in cludes a frame in which are adapted to beremovably placed a plurality of glass panels on which are arrangedletters of various characters, and each letter or character is formed ona separatepanel or backing and is adapted to be detachably arrangedwithin the frame and is secured within the frame by a suitable rubberweather strip, and located behind the panels and supported by the frameare casings in which are positioned incandescent lights so as toilluminate the letters on the panels so that the same may be readilyread at night.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an electricsignof this character, which, shall be simple, practicalandcomparatively inexpensive in construe.- tion and one that can bemanufactured and sold at a small cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel combination and 'arrangementof parts'as will be herein after morefully described and set forth in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sign constructed in accordance withmyinvention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one form of panel carrying the letters orcharacters,

Fig. 4: is a front elevation of another form of glass panel with theletters of various characters, 7

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the portion of the weatherstrip which supports the panels in the frame,

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary sectional View illustrating the manner inwhich the weather strip is secured to the frame,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the attachingplate carried b one end of one weather strip.

Like numerals of reference designate cordrawings.

responding parts in all the figures 'of the sign frame in its entiretyand it comprises in 1ts construction a horizontalbase bar'2 which barhas its opposite endsturned upwardly as at 3,toconstituteattaching'members. An arcuate or substantially semicircular. angular bar4 has each of its ends secured to the upper side of the horizontal bar 2adjacent the ends thereof, and one of Referring more particularly tothe. drawj ing, the numeral 1 designates an electric- The ends of thesemi-circular bar 7 are secured to the upper side of the horizontal basebar 2 at each end thereof and are setion of theframe. A horizontal anglebar I stood that the incandescent lights 23 are secured to a suitableelectric source so that the light rays may penetrate through the glasspanels 20 and illuminate the same, it also being understood that thelights can be in an alternating circuit so that the same may go out atvarious intervals, for the purpose of providing a novel electric sign.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. An electric sign having a base bar, an arcuate angle bar secured tothe base bar, a second bar secured to the base bar and in spacedrelation to the first named bar, said last mentioned bars constituting asubstantially semi-circular frame, a horizontal angle bar connected withthe inner face of the arcuate angle bar, a second horizontal barconnected with the angle bar and in spaced relation to the first namedhorizontal angle bar and constituting a frame, a plurality of glasspanels removably fitted in the frames, and Weather strips removablysecured to each of the frames upon the upper edges of the glass panels.

2. An electric sign comprising a horizontal supporting bar, arcuate barssecured to the opposite ends of the supporting bar cured to the innerarcuate bar and spaced apart forming an auxiliary frame, a plurality ofremovable glass panels positioned Within the frames, and removableWeather strips secured over the upper edges of the panels and to theends of the frames.

3. An electric sign comprising a horizontal base supporting bar, spacedarcuate bars secured adjacent each end of the base bar, a casing securedto the rear face of said arcuate bars forming a frame, spaced horizontalbars secured to the inner arcuate bar, casings secured to the rear sideof certain of said horizontal bars forming a frame, a plurality of glasspanels removably supported in the frames, incandescent lights located inthe casings, and Weather strips secured over the upper edges of thepanels and removably connected to the frames.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

J ACOB J. STEINKE.

YVitnesses M. E. RESKEY, W. A. KULL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

